Taming the Alpha

by Mandy M. Roth

  He ignored the throbbing of his cock. He’d just had her but he wanted her again. Later, after she’d slept for a few hours, he’d wake her. He had no idea what the morning would bring so he planned to make the most of tonight.

  Chapter Four

  Kansas moaned and buried her face against the pillow to avoid the sunlight streaming in through her bedroom window. Her pillow was harder than usual and warmer. She opened one eye and stared at the broad expanse of muscled male chest and memory came flooding back.

  “Good morning.” The deep rumble of his voice made her nipples tighten. She shivered with barely repressed longing. He’d made love to her twice more last night, waking her the last time just before dawn.

  “What time is it?” she asked.

  The cotton pillowcase rustled as he turned his head to glance at the clock. “Just after seven.”

  Great. She didn’t need to work today and was still up as early as ever.

  “What time do you need to be at work?”

  She shook her head. “Off.”

  He kissed the top of her head and rolled out of bed. “I’m hitting the shower. Feel free to join me.”

  The pillow wasn’t nearly as comfortable as his chest. She punched it and grumbled under her breath as she watched him stroll out of the room. She had to admit she wouldn’t mind watching his fine butt every morning. And that was part of the problem. She had no idea what was going to happen next with their relationship or even if they had one. Maybe this was a one-time thing.

  “Stop it,” she muttered. She got out of bed and grabbed her robe from the closet and slipped it on without getting dressed.

  The water came on in the bathroom down the hall. The pipes shuddered and groaned before settling down. She thought about joining him but knew she needed coffee first. She was one of those people who didn’t function well until she’d had her first cup.

  She padded barefoot down the stairs and into the kitchen. The coffee in the carafe was cold. She dumped it out and started a fresh pot. Tobias’s shirt was on the counter and she lifted the soft cotton to her face and breathed in his scent. On a whim, she took off her robe, pulled his shirt on and put her robe back on. Maybe it was juvenile but she loved having his shirt next to her skin.

  Her coffeepot was fairly new and worked fast. Before the shower shut off, she had a mug of coffee in her hand and was taking the first life-giving sip of the morning. She stared out the window into the backyard. A six-foot privacy fence enclosed her small private oasis. There was no grass there anymore. She’d dug it all up a couple years back and put in a deck, gravel and flowerbeds instead. It was low maintenance and a beautiful spot for her to sit and unwind after a long day at work.

  She heard Tobias on the stairs and filled another mug. He appeared in the doorway looking fresh and sexy as ever. It wasn’t fair. She felt grungy and rumpled and he looked like he was ready to take on the day.

  “Here.” She shoved the mug toward him.

  He came toward her but ignored the coffee and kissed her instead. “Good morning.”

  She sighed and rubbed her face. “Yeah.”

  He chuckled. “Still not a morning person.” He picked up his mug and drank, ignoring her growl of displeasure. “How about I make us some breakfast while you shower.”

  That worked for her. Plus, it meant he’d planned to stay, at least for a while. “Sounds good.” She refilled her mug, left him in the kitchen and hurried upstairs. She sipped her coffee as she headed to the bathroom. And if she had a sudden spring in her step it was due to the coffee and had nothing at all to do with the sexy man in the kitchen making her breakfast.

  She snorted at her own lie as she shut the bathroom door behind her.

  ***

  Tobias felt lighter this morning, as though the heavy weight he perpetually wore around his neck was gone. He watched Kansas walk away and almost went after her. God only knows he wanted her again. But he’d already pushed it by taking her three times last night. She had to be sore this morning.

  A hot shower and breakfast would go a long way to making her feel better. And coffee. Some things never changed. He and her brothers used to make fun of Kansas when they were growing up. They were all early risers by nature, but not her. She was grumpy until she’d had coffee and some time to wake up properly.

  The pipes groaned and he heard the water running. He’d promised her breakfast and had to deliver. He opened her refrigerator and looked inside. She had eggs and some mushrooms and green peppers. No bacon. Oh well, it would have to do. Omelets were on the menu. There was also a loaf of bread on the counter so he could make toast.

  He pulled everything out onto the counter and went to work chopping mushrooms and onions. Her blouse and bra were still on the counter from where he’d stripped them from her last night. He resisted the urge to run the silky fabric of her bra over his face.

  Man, he had it bad.

  He stopped mid-chop, and set both the knife and mushroom down on the cutting board. He took a moment to quickly wash and dry his hands before picking up her blouse. He folded it and laid it over the top of one of the kitchen chairs. Then he lifted her bra. It was ridiculously dainty in his big rough hands. He draped it over the blouse and then absently rubbed his bare chest.

  Tobias glanced around but didn’t see his T-shirt anywhere. He looked up at the ceiling when the water turned off. Had Kansas been wearing it? He hadn’t noticed her clothing once he’d caught sight of her bare legs and sleep-tousled hair.

  His cock was wide awake and had been since he’d opened his eyes this morning. No coffee necessary. He went back to the chopping board, picked up the knife and finished slicing and dicing. He had eggs whisked in a bowl and the vegetables sizzling in a large skillet by the time Kansas returned.

  She looked much more alert. Her skin glowed with good health and her eyes sparkled. She didn’t wear much makeup beyond mascara and some light lip-gloss that made her mouth look extremely kissable. Kansas was naturally beautiful and didn’t need the layers of makeup some women felt the need to layer on. He was tired of that kind of artifice after being around it for so long. He much preferred the more natural look Kansas sported.

  She was wearing a pair of faded jeans that fit her like a glove, accentuating her curves. She’d topped it with a tank top the same cherry color as her hair. A thin band of beige peeked out from beneath the strap. He wondered if her panties matched her bra.

  He ignored the sizzle of the onions and mushrooms. Didn’t feel the slight spatter of grease from the pan when it jumped onto his bare stomach.

  “Everything okay?” She stopped just inside the room. “Do I have something on my face?”

  He shook his head. “You look beautiful.”

  “Oh. Okay. Thanks.” Pale pink tinted her cheeks. She was blushing.

  Totally charmed, he went to her, leaned down and brushed his mouth over hers. “Good morning.”

  “We already did this,” she pointed out before she skimmed her lips over his.

  “But this time I know you’re fully awake,” he pointed out.

  Kansas grinned and then glanced at the stove. “Should I be worried about breakfast?”

  Tobias whirled around and yanked the pan off the stove. The onions and mushrooms were well cooked but, thankfully, not burned. He dumped the egg on top of them and put the pan back on the burner.

  “I’ll start the toast,” she told him.

  “Where’s my shirt?” he asked.

  The color in her cheeks deepened. “Ah, upstairs on the bed.”

  He turned away before she caught his grin. He’d been right. She had been wearing his shirt. And what a turn on that was. He valiantly tried to ignore the tight fit of his jeans.

  Working side by side, as though they’d done it for years, it didn’t take them long to get breakfast on the table. He divided the omelet in half and she added toast to each plate as well. Coffee was poured and they both sat at the kitchen table.

  “You still have it,” he rem
arked. When she gave him a quizzical look, he pointed at the table.

  “Yeah, I made some changes when Reno finally moved out. Had a big sale out front and got rid of a bunch of stuff. Thought about getting rid of the table but just couldn’t do it.” She stroked her hand over the worn top. “Maybe I’ll replace it eventually but, for now, I like it. It’s retro.” She grinned at him, making him smile.

  “Why didn’t you take over the master bedroom?” It had surprised him that she was still in her childhood bedroom.

  She wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “I thought about it. But sleeping in my parents’ bedroom felt too weird. Besides, it’s not much bigger than my room. Plus, I like the view from my side of the house.”

  Tobias shoved a large bite of omelet into his mouth and chewed but he barely tasted it. He’d missed so many little things over the years, life-changing events, holidays, but most of all the day-to-day moments that made up a life.

  “What are you doing now?” he asked her. “Last I heard you were working with some non-profit group.”

  She put down her fork and sipped her coffee. “That’s right. I transitioned into my new position just after you left. I’m coordinator of the shelter and various programs we run to help kids, at-risk teens, and women.”

  “Then why the hell was that guy hassling you last night?” Tobias hadn’t forgotten that Kansas had been accosted outside her own home. “And how does this guy know where you live?”

  Kansas shrugged and he wanted to shake her. The bruise on her arm was faint but it was there, a startling reminder that the situation could have been much worse.

  “I’m from the neighborhood, Tobias. A lot of people know where I live. David White makes a habit of hitting his girlfriend whenever he has too much to drink, which is pretty much every weekend. This isn’t the first time Amelia has come to the shelter, but I think she’s serious about not going back.”

  Kansas frowned, her expression fierce. “She has a black eye and a broken wrist this time.”

  This time. Tobias couldn’t imagine hitting a woman, especially not one he cared about. The idea was totally foreign to him and went against everything he’d been raised to believe.

  “So why was this guy after you?”

  “Usually Amelia would have gone home by now. David is starting to worry and needs someone to blame. And I’m it.”

  “And York and Reno are okay with your doing this?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth he wanted to call them back.

  “My brothers don’t dictate my life.” Her tone had cooled considerably.

  Tobias raked his fingers through his hair. “I’m just worried about you.”

  “I know.” She reached out and touched his arm. “But you’ve been gone a long time, Tobias. I know how to take care of myself.”

  Once again, he felt totally inadequate. His grandfather had needed him and he hadn’t been here. Kansas needed someone to look out for her and he’d been gone and both her brothers had moved away.

  “When did Reno get his own place?” York had already been out on his own a couple of years before Tobias had left for his undercover assignment. It had never occurred to him that both brothers would move out and leave Kansas on her own.

  “Last year.” She took a bite of her omelet, chewed and swallowed. “It’s good,” she told him. “Reno moved out once he left the army. With he and York working long hours to get their business off the ground, it made sense for him to be closer to their office. They bought a three-apartment house on the other side of the city.”

  “Three apartment?”

  Kansas looked disgruntled. “Yeah. They wanted to sell the house and for me to move into the third apartment.”

  That sounded more like his friends. “Yet, you’re still here,” he pointed out.

  She shrugged. “This is where I work. I can’t help these people if I’m not living among them. I’m one of them. They trust me.”

  That was one of the things he loved about Kansas—her compassion. Tobias slowly lowered his fork and set the utensil on the side of his plate. Shit. As though the blinders he’d been wearing fell away, he finally understood the real reason he’d returned to the neighborhood. Not because of his grandfather’s home. He could have paid a company to put everything in storage and had a realtor sell the place without ever setting foot back in the city. No, he hadn’t come back for the empty house next door. He’d come back for this woman.

  “Tobias? What’s wrong? You look pale.” Kansas shoved back her chair and started to rise but he waved her back.

  “I’m fine.” He wasn’t really, but he would be.

  “So,” she began once he’d started eating again. He was trying to act normal, to not give any indication that his perceptions of his life and of himself had just exploded. “What are your plans?”

  He knew she meant his long-term plans but he wasn’t ready to answer that question. A lot of it depended on her. Yes, she’d slept with him. Yes, he knew she cared about him. But was last night simply a reaction to the adrenaline from the tense situation she’d faced before he’d come along, feminine curiosity to finally let the kiss they’d shared over two years ago take its natural course, or did it mean more?

  Did she want him around on a regular basis or had she simply been getting him out of her system? Having sex so she’d finally know what it was like between them before sending him on his way?

  Every cell in his body rebelled against that idea and he dismissed it as soon as he’d thought it. Kansas wasn’t the type of woman to sleep around. She was emotionally involved—of that he was certain.

  But were the emotions simply memories from the past or was there a chance for them to have a future? Tobias didn’t know.

  He finished eating and shoved his plate aside. “I plan to go next door and look at the house.” He got to his feet and started clearing away the dishes. “Want to join me?” He wanted to spend more time with her. Truthfully, he didn’t want her out of his sight, not until he’d had some time to look into this David White character some more.

  “Sure.” She waved him away. “Why don’t you go and get your shirt while I finish up here.”

  He gave a curt nod and walked away. As he headed up the stairs, he took a deep breath and reminded himself he had an edge. He was in her house and she’d slept with him. For a woman like Kansas, that meant a lot.

  Some of the tension seeped out of him. He entered her bedroom, grabbed his T-shirt off her bed and pulled it over his head. His gun was still on the bedside table so he clipped the holster to the back of his jeans and yanked the tail of his shirt down to cover it.

  He took the time to really look around the room. He’d had other things on his mind last night. He went to her bookshelves and perused what was there. You could tell a lot about a person from their personal belongings.

  Textbooks, some fictional thrillers and self-help books dominated. He frowned when he read some of the self-help titles. “How to get over him? Starting over?” he muttered. “What the hell?” Who had she been trying to get over? Him?

  “Well, she can damn well forget that.” Then he smiled when he glimpsed her high school medals from track and field as well as a tiny glass trinket box he’d given her for her sixteenth birthday. He’d picked it up at a small antique shop and she’d loved it. That she’d kept it all these years gave him hope.

  “Tobias,” she called from downstairs.

  “Coming.” He left the past behind as he headed down. Kansas was part of his past. He also wanted her to be a part of his future. Maybe he didn’t deserve her but if she was willing to give him a chance he was going to take it. If he hadn’t slept with her maybe he’d be able to walk away, but last night had changed everything.

  And if there was one thing he’d learned in his life it was that you couldn’t go back, only forward.

  ***

  Kansas wished she knew what Tobias was thinking. He’d gone quiet over breakfast, as the tension in him had ratcheted up a notch. She worried he was
getting ready to bolt. Instead, he’d asked her to join him when he went next door.

  As they walked up the steps to his grandfather’s home, now his home, he seemed to hesitate. He’d loved his grandfather very much, and she knew this had to be incredibly difficult. She was glad she was here with him. He might not think he needed moral support but he did.

  “Do you have a key?” she asked. “If you don’t, I have one.”

  Tobias shook his head. “The lawyer sent it to me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out two keys and undid both locks. He took a deep breath, turned the handle and stepped inside. She followed and shut the door behind them.

  The air was stale, as the windows hadn’t been opened in months. The heat of the summer had made the place stifling. Kansas went into the living room, unlocked the windows and pushed them up. Tobias’s grandfather had never bothered with air conditioning, using fans and windows to cool the house.

  Tobias was still standing in the foyer where she’d left him, keys in hand. She went back to him, removed the keys and set them on the small shelf just inside the door. “Your grandfather didn’t change much after you left. The television is new.” She pointed to the corner of the living room. “He decided a forty-two inch flat screen was worth the money.”

  Tobias chuckled. “He didn’t like parting with money, but he would have done it for football. He did love to watch the games.”

  She rubbed his arm before she took his hand and tugged him into the room. It was a plain room with a battered plaid sofa and matching chair, along with a leather recliner that had been repaired with duct tape in several spots. The walls were bare but there was a shelf in the corner with pictures of Tobias. She and her brothers were in a couple of the shots. There was one photo of his parents and another of his grandmother.

  His entire family was gone. She knew he had some aunts and uncles somewhere but they’d never been close. “Do you want to come back later?”